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Tuna species recovering despite growing pressures on marine life - IUCN Red List

And we need more of this 'bending the curve' to achieve Targets 5 & 9 of the Global Biodiversity Framework and ensure genuine sustainable use of wild species. Worth reading IUCN's '21 press release and Red List assessment for background - bit.ly/4xUBS5m & bit.ly/4qwekkS 3/3

bit.ly

Marseille, France, 4 September 2021 (IUCN) – Four commercially-fished tuna species are on the path to recovery thanks to the enforcement of regional fishing quotas over the last decade, according to t...

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No grounds for complacency of course & lots still to do, the W Atlantic pop'n is doing much less well than the East Atlantic pop'n. There is a lot to criticise fisheries management for, but surely they (ICCAT in this case) deserve some credit when things are going in the right direction. 2/3

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Why such a negative take on this? If any other species had gone from Endangered in 2011 to Least Concern 10 yrs later it would be considered a success. And this has happened whilst the species was being harvested showing fisheries management can succeed - a win-win for cons'n & livelihoods 1/3

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A good review here (cites.org/sites/defaul...) for the CITES plants committee by @rbgkew.bsky.social of international trade in edible orchids. Worth a read - the issue under continued discussion at the recent 28th PC meeting in July in Geneva

cites.org

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For those not from Lancashire, note that ‘brow’ is pronounced ‘brew’ & means the slope of a hill / incline not the top of the hill (cf ‘brae’ in Scots). In this case referring to the slope down from the pit head. Unfortunately both are spelt the same way on maps etc.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I always liked Wakes week (if your family wasn’t away on holiday that week) - the town was so quiet, just about everything was shut and, yes, papers sold from street corners

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Reposted by Vin Fleming

Mongabay @mongabay.com · 25/07/2026

To restore their land and identity, Brazil’s Laklãnõ/Xokleng Indigenous people have planted nearly 100,000 seedlings of the sacred, critically endangered Brazilian pine. This community effort has also restored water sources across 1,000 hectares of degraded land. Letícia Klein reports.

news.mongabay.com

For Brazil’s Xokleng people, saving a sacred tree means saving their culture

IBIRAMA-LA KLÃNÕ INDIGENOUS TERRITORY, Brazil — Zág, pronounced “zã,” is the Xokleng word for the Brazilian pine. This tree species, Araucaria angustifolia, is typical of the Atlantic Forest that…

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

A really useful blog. Building social justice into projects and programmes isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ but an element that should be factored into projects and objectives at the start if outcomes are going to be sustained long-term

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

This rather attractive log pile is of ash stumps cut specifically (I think) to provide sticks (hurleys) for the game of hurling. The tree is felled 1-2m above ground level and the stump then cut out to include the buttress roots which provide a natural curve for the stick. Morkery wood, Lincs

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Agree entirely - the devastating losses of indigenous lives & subsequent forest expansion / related drop in CO2 one option for the start of the Anthropocene. And the C19th forest regeneration in New England (welcome tho it is) didn’t result in any apparent impact on global CO2 levels?

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Reposted by Vin Fleming

NDN Collective @ndncollective.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Today was a powerful day as thousands of Indigenous Peoples gathered at the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Greasy Grass to reignite our warrior spirit and remember who we are as mighty Indigenous Nations.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Mostly spoil heaps from (long closed) deep mines / collieries rather than opencast - the heaps known locally as ‘rucks’ - at least that’s what we called them them a few miles east in Leigh

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Agree with NE’s assessment of the evidence- but describing the introductions as ‘not a conservation priority’ seems to dodge the issue of whether NE support these introductions or not? I have said elsewhere that I think white storks should be on schedule 9 of the WCA so releases can be regulated

Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Love how well camouflaged this female flower/crab spider (Mitusema vatia) is on these white lilac flowers in my garden. Not something you expect to come nose-to-face with when sniffing a flower. Latter are past their best now so a colour change for the spider will be in order soon

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Reposted by Vin Fleming

JNCC @jncc.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

A Summary of the UK's 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been published today, providing a concise overview of the UK’s 7th National Report (7NR). 🔗 jncc.gov.uk/news/uk-prog... @unbiodiversity.bsky.social

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And on the subject of schedule 9, I think, for different reasons, turtle dove is a good candidate too. The recent release of captive-bred doves seems to have many echoes of the releases of captive-bred barn owls in the late 80s & 90s, only halted by inclusion in Sch 9. 5/5

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Releases in England have implications for GB. There is a good case to add both storks to Schedule 9 of the WCA to regulate further releases (& consult with other GB bodies). These releases are not re-introductions, NE could oppose these in principle, not merely say they are not a priority 4/5

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If white storks had been treated as an irregular visitor, then the basis for the original releases could have been regulated & critically reviewed. Now, with no need for licences, will releases comply fully with the translocation code & self-regulate? 3/5

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As NE state, white storks were probably never anything more than irregular breeders (& visitors) in the UK. As such, releases are attempting to create a situation (established breeding population) that was never the case historically. How does that benefit conservation? 2/5

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Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust @lincswildlife.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

This blog by NE is welcome clarification of their position. Clearly any black stork releases would be illegal (and I cannot think why would anyone want to do it anyway). On white storks, given the birds now present at Knepp, licences for releases cannot now be demanded. 1/5

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Reposted by Vin Fleming

Exciting news from Willow Tree Fen, where two crane chicks emerged from the reeds last week. We've been keeping their arrival quiet over the bank holiday as they are very sensitive to disturbance. If you're visiting, binoculars are recommended and our amazing Crane Watch volunteers are on hand.

Adult crane with two small crane chicks.
Photo by Crane Watch volunteer Dave Coats

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A great reminder of a very nice man who many people of a certain age from Leigh will remember from his post office in Bedford. Had forgotten he played for Leigh… And he had a fantastic name too, surprised no author has stolen it for a book character

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I still am Vincent Fleming!! Nice surprise to hear from an old school chum. St Joe’s was a long time ago now. I’m now exiled in Lincolnshire - here for 25 years and 20 in Scotland beforehand. Don’t know the whereabouts of any other schoolmates from then.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

I have said before how good a site this is and how much better it could become with proper management. If you haven’t donated before this is a good opportunity to double your donation to help secure the future of this grassland which, at the moment , teems with skylarks and meadow pipits

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

I stopped feeding birds a few years back so now only get the birds my garden deserves. I don’t really miss it. And if I’m honest I rarely cleaned my feeders often enough. I suspect most people don’t. Far more reasons not to feed than to do so but understand the pleasure it brings to many

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

Agree a good article. And the RSPB advice is welcome if overdue & partial. Even if disease risk is lower in winter it is not zero risk & probably more birds visit feeders then. And the indirect impact on other species, like marsh & willow tits, remains (if any occur nearby).

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

This is a fantastic site, and well worth supporting if you are able. As good as it is (& I’ve been watching it for c25 years) it has the potential to be even better with appropriate management. A great opportunity for nature recovery in this intensively farmed county #lincsbirding

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Great to see so many present and former (like me) @jncc.bsky.social friends and colleagues at CITES CoP20 all contributing to positive outcomes. This is my tenth CITES CoP, covering 25 years, eight as a UK delegate, one as chair of Committee I and, now, supporting the CITES secretariat.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

A pic from a few weeks ago now but the leaf colour on this pear has been outstanding. The leaves on this old Belgian variety usually go a dull dark red, not this good tho. No fruit this year and not the best quality in my opinion despite the description below. Text from 1884 ‘The Fruit Manual’

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Very normal to see groups of up to 10-20 roe deer in the south Lincs fens but they are rare when you get to the more wooded ‘uplands’ where fallow and muntjac dominate. Assume competition from these excludes roe…

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

If there are genuinely no trees nearby (even stunted sheep-grazed ones), then v likely that the ectomycorrhizal host for the fly agaric is rockrose which I assume might occur in those coastal grasslands(?). Not unusual to see e.g. bolete fruitbodies towering over their host rockrose ‘tree’

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Reposted by Vin Fleming

Carbon Brief @carbonbrief.org · 12/09/2025

NEW – Analysis: UK foreign aid for nature hits £800m record due to cash for carbon credits | @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social Read here: buff.ly/Ug7Znf9

Bar chart showing that UK aid spending on nature reached nearly £800m last year, putting it on track to meet the £3bn climate-finance target. The UK’s annual international climate finance spending, £m, by financial year, for the five-year period covering the £3bn nature-finance goal. The light green bar indicates the amount of finance that would need to be provided in order to meet the target in the final year. Source: Carbon Brief analysis, FOI documents.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Delighted to hear this. Having worked with both Alison and Nichola on CITES for over 20 years, I cannot think of any more deserving recipients. My heartfelt congratulations!

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Raises lots of questions about the objectives for these releases, biosecurity & disease risks, and whether the England translocation guidance was considered or followed…

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

And these birds have been over-wintered in captivity so unlikely to migrate? Reports locally of released turtle doves trying to get INTO aviaries with other doves…. Depressing if rear & release is the future envisaged for turtle doves rather than addressing root causes of decline

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

I also came unexpectedly across a turtle dove in our fenland edge village recently after a 2-3 year absence. But it coincided with one of these releases <10km away. Knowing this takes away the magic of finding a TD…an example of ‘de-wilding’ perhaps (@iancarter67.bsky.social)

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Yes of course , drop me a line

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

A great talk last night about a great book. @drmjwarren.bsky.social mentioned a family link to south Lincs where there is a ‘Cranmore Drove’ (also farm & lodge) nr Deeping St James. Cranes breed c10km away at LWT Willow Tree Fen. Is this the closest cranes now breed to a place once named after them?

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

A big thanks to Hannah Dale at @wildwrendale.bsky.social for showing us (conservation strategy group of @lincswildlife.bsky.social) the progress of nature recovery on their Lincs farm. A thrill too to see signs of beaver activity in their large enclosure. Can only get better in years ahead

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Good story - the use of song to retain indigenous knowledge and to restore Atlantic forest

Survival International @survivalinternational.org · 20/04/2025

Reposted by Vin Fleming

🗣️ “The countries that buy gold without knowing where it comes from are also helping to kill Indigenous peoples” – Alessandra Munduruku A new research by @greenpeace shows: Illegal gold mines in the Indigenous Sararé territory in Brazil have almost doubled in 2023 to 2024.

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Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Had whoopers calling over my house (to the south of point 27) at 2125 last night. Assume part of the same movement if not the same birds & regular every spring. Nice to see the route they take, had always assumed they might head to SW Lancs first.

Vin Fleming @vin-fleming.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

An impressive study (and map) into the history of the 438 known massacres (& >10k people) of indigenous Australians (against 13 the other way) during colonisation by Europeans. The most recent in the 1930s - within my parents’ lifetime www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

theguardian.com

More than 10,000 First Nations people killed in Australia’s frontier wars, final massacre map shows

‘Horrendous’ eight-year long project has ended with final fact check, leaving a legacy ‘nobody can argue’ with, says researcher